Silent Scream

Eighteen

Kim caught up with the professor as he neared Bill and Ben, as she had nicknamed his volunteers.

‘Doctor Matthews has done an initial survey of the soil to find there is a large clay content.’

Not much of a surprise in the Black Country.

‘Such conditions affect the performance of ground penetrating radar so we’re going to start with a magnetometer.’

‘Gesundheit,’ Bryant offered.

The professor ignored her colleague and carried on speaking to her as though she had a clue. Kim rarely questioned the expertise of others. She trusted people to do their jobs effectively and she expected the same in return.

‘The magnetometer uses sensors to measure the gradient of the magnetic field. Different materials can cause disturbances and this particular tool can detect anomalies caused by disturbed soils or decayed organic materials.’

Bill started walking towards them with Ben behind. To Kim, he looked like something from The Terminator. Over his shoulder rested a black strap fixed to a metal rod approximately six feet in length that he held horizontally at waist height. On the front tip of the pole was a second rod fixed so he carried a giant letter T. Attached to each end of the smaller rod were sensors. Black cables travelled to the reader strapped around his waist and a black canvas holdall was fixed to his back.

‘We’ll start down there at the bottom edge and work in straight lines. A bit like how you’d mow the lawn.’

Kim nodded and the three of them moved away.

Doctor Matthews and his assistant had retreated to the warmth of the car.

‘You gonna be okay with this, Guv?’ Bryant asked.

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ she snapped.

‘Well, you know ...’

‘No, I don’t know and if you feel the need to question my capability, take it to my boss.’

‘Guv, I would never do that. It was a question asked out of concern.’

‘I’m fine, now leave it alone.’

She never talked about her past but Bryant knew she’d spent time in the care system. He didn’t know the things that had happened to her there. He knew she had a mother who was a paranoid schizophrenic. But he didn't know the repercussions of that. He knew she’d once had a twin brother but he didn’t know how he’d died. Only one person knew all the events of her past and she was damn sure it was going to stay that way.

The phone in her pocket rang. It was Woody.

‘Sir?’ she answered, expectantly.

‘Still waiting, Stone. I’m just checking that you remember what we talked about.’

‘Of course, Sir.’

‘Because if you act against my instructions ...’

‘Sir, please, you can trust me.’

Bryant shook his head.

‘If I don’t have the authorisation in the next couple of hours stand Professor Milton down and thank him for his time.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ she said. Thank God he didn’t know about Doctor Matthews.

‘I know it’s frustrating standing around doing nothing but processes have to be followed.’

‘I understand, Sir. I have Bryant here who would like to express his concern about something to do with the handling of the case.’

She held out the phone. Bryant shot her daggers before walking away.

‘Oh no, I appear to be mistaken.’

Woody tutted and ended the call. She keyed in Dawson’s number. He answered on the second ring.

‘What’ve you got?’

‘Not much at the moment, Guv.’

‘Got the names of other staff members?’

‘Not yet. The local authority isn’t quite as accommodating as Courtney. We’re trawling through any news reports where Crestwood is mentioned to see if we can come up with anything. The best we’ve got so far is a Pastor Wilks who did a sponsored walk of the Three Peaks to raise money for a day trip for the girls.’

‘Okay, Kev, pass me to Stacey.’

‘Morning, Guv.’

‘Stace, I need you to start putting together a list of the kids that were here when the place burned down.’

Even if there was nothing found, they would still need to speak to ex-residents of the facility to find a link between Teresa Wyatt and Tom Curtis.

Stacey said she would get right on it and ended the call.

Kim glanced towards the boys. They had progressed about forty feet with the magnetometer but were now standing still, checking the equipment.

Her wandering gaze found Bryant at the edge of the site, his back to her. Uncharacteristically, she felt bad for snapping at him. She knew his question was born out of concern for her wellbeing but she didn’t react to kindness all that well.

‘Hey, you still got that bacon bap?’ she asked, nudging him in the arm.

‘Yeah, you want it?’

‘No, go throw it in that bin. Your cholesterol level can’t take it.’

As soon as the words were out of her mouth she realised that it worked both ways.

‘You been talking to my missus?’

Kim smiled. She’d received a text message two days earlier.

Kim heard movement and looked behind.

The professor was approaching at speed. His face was reddened, his features animated.

‘Detective, the machine is showing readings of interest. I think we might have something.’

Bryant caught her eye. ‘Guv, we don’t have any authority.’

She looked at him for a long minute. If there was a body buried in this ground it was not going to stay there a minute longer than necessary.

She nodded to the professor. ‘Start digging.’